Vehicle notification sound emitting apparatus

Abstract

A vehicle notification sound emitting apparatus is basically provided with a first sound emitting device, a second sound emitting device and a notification sound control device. The first sound emitting device emits a first intermittent notification sound inside a cabin interior of a vehicle. The second sound emitting device emits a second intermittent notification sound outside of the cabin interior of the vehicle. The notification sound control device operates the first and second sound emitting devices to separately emit the first and second intermittent notification sounds in at least a partially overlapping pattern in response to occurrence of a vehicle condition to convey a same type of vehicle information to both inside and outside of the cabin interior of the vehicle. The notification sound control device includes a cabin interior-exterior notification sound synchronizing section that is configured to synchronize the first and second intermittent notification sounds.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A vehicle notification sound emitting apparatus comprising:
 a first sound emitting device configured to emit a first intermittent notification sound inside a cabin interior of a vehicle as a first pattern having sound periods and silent periods; 
 a second sound emitting device configured to emit a second intermittent notification sound outside of the cabin interior of the vehicle as a second pattern having sound periods and silent periods; and 
 a notification sound control device configured to operate the first and second sound emitting devices to separately emit the first and second intermittent notification sounds in at least a partially overlapping pattern in response to occurrence of a vehicle condition to convey a same type of vehicle information to both inside and outside of the cabin interior of the vehicle, the notification sound control device including a cabin interior-exterior notification sound synchronizing section configured to synchronize the first and second intermittent notification sounds such that a non-overlapping period in which the first and second intermittent notification sounds are both silent is provided, the non-overlapping period corresponding to a single period of time that exists entirely during the silent periods of the first and second patterns without existing in any of the sound periods of the first and second patterns. 
 
     
     
       2. The vehicle notification sound emitting apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein
 the notification sound control device is further configured to operate the first sound emitting device to emit an intermittent reverse range selection notification sound emitted as the first intermittent notification sound inside the cabin interior of the vehicle in response to a reverse movement shift operation; 
 the notification sound control device is further configured to operate the second sound emitting device to emit an intermittent reverse movement notification sound emitted as the second intermittent notification sound outside the cabin interior of the vehicle in response to reverse movement of the vehicle. 
 
     
     
       3. The vehicle notification sound emitting apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein
 the notification sound control device is further configured to operate a third sound emitting device that is configured to emit a cabin interior notification sound inside the cabin interior of the vehicle that relates to other vehicle information during a non-overlapping period in which the first and second intermittent notification sounds are both silent. 
 
     
     
       4. The vehicle notification sound emitting apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein
 the cabin interior-exterior notification sound synchronizing section is further configured to synchronize the first and second intermittent notification sounds to have identical start timings and different end timings. 
 
     
     
       5. The vehicle notification sound emitting apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein
 the cabin interior-exterior notification sound synchronizing section is further configured to synchronize the first and second intermittent notification sounds to have identical start timings and identical end timings. 
 
     
     
       6. The vehicle notification sound emitting apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein
 the cabin interior-exterior notification sound synchronizing section is further configured to synchronize the first and second intermittent notification sounds to have different start timings and different end timings. 
 
     
     
       7. The vehicle notification sound emitting apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein
 the cabin interior-exterior notification sound synchronizing section is further configured to synchronize the first and second intermittent notification sounds to have different start timings and identical end timings. 
 
     
     
       8. The vehicle notification sound emitting apparatus as recited in  claim 2 , wherein
 the notification sound control device is further configured to operate a third sound emitting device that is configured to emit a cabin interior notification sound inside the cabin interior of the vehicle that relates to other vehicle information during a non-overlapping period in which the first and second intermittent notification sounds are both silent. 
 
     
     
       9. The vehicle notification sound emitting apparatus as recited in  claim 2 , wherein
 the cabin interior-exterior notification sound synchronizing section is further configured to synchronize the first and second intermittent notification sounds to have identical start timings and different end timings. 
 
     
     
       10. The vehicle notification sound emitting apparatus as recited in  claim 2 , wherein
 the cabin interior-exterior notification sound synchronizing section is further configured to synchronize the first and second intermittent notification sounds to have identical start timings and identical end timings. 
 
     
     
       11. The vehicle notification sound emitting apparatus as recited in  claim 2 , wherein
 the cabin interior-exterior notification sound synchronizing section is further configured to synchronize the first and second intermittent notification sounds to have different start timings and different end timings. 
 
     
     
       12. The vehicle notification sound emitting apparatus as recited in  claim 2 , wherein
 the cabin interior-exterior notification sound synchronizing section is further configured to synchronize the first and second intermittent notification sounds to have different start timings and identical end timings. 
 
     
     
       13. The vehicle notification sound emitting apparatus as recited in  claim 3 , wherein
 the cabin interior-exterior notification sound synchronizing section is further configured to synchronize the first and second intermittent notification sounds to have identical start timings and different end timings. 
 
     
     
       14. The vehicle notification sound emitting apparatus as recited in  claim 3 , wherein
 the cabin interior-exterior notification sound synchronizing section is further configured to synchronize the first and second intermittent notification sounds to have identical start timings and identical end timings. 
 
     
     
       15. The vehicle notification sound emitting apparatus as recited in  claim 3 , wherein
 the cabin interior-exterior notification sound synchronizing section is further configured to synchronize the first and second intermittent notification sounds to have different start timings and different end timings. 
 
     
     
       16. The vehicle notification sound emitting apparatus as recited in  claim 3 , wherein
 the cabin interior-exterior notification sound synchronizing section is further configured to synchronize the first and second intermittent notification sounds to have different start timings and identical end timings.